Britain's reliance on US tech group Palantir is an 'unacceptable weakness," report says

A parliamentary committee singled out U.S. tech group Palantir as an instance of Britain's over-reliance on U.S. companies ‌in the public sector, calling it an "unacceptable point of weakness" in a report on Wednesday. Among Palantir's high-profile contracts is one with the National Health Service - valued at £330 million ($444 million) - that is designed to collate disparate data into a single system to support decision-making by healthcare professionals. The contract was awarded in ‌2023 for seven years, but warning against vendor lock-in, Parliament's Science, Innovation and Technology Committee urged the government to exercise a break clause.

The parliamentary ‌committee can only recommend and it is up to the government whether it follows its advice. 'CLEAR MISMATCH WITH UK VALUES'

The 70-page report found that Palantir had increased its presence despite a "clear mismatch with UK values" and the possible risk to sensitive information. It cited Palantir's supply of software for the U.S. military and immigration services, as well ⁠as its ​billionaire co-founder Peter Thiel's political views.

Thiel, an ⁠early supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, has criticised the concept of a national health service, while the company has issued a manifesto making explicitly political arguments, the report ⁠said. "The government's ... ambitions could be derailed at any time by a decision taken outside our shores based on the narrow interests of a foreign commercial or ​state actor," the committee's report added.

PALANTIR DEFENDS HEALTH CONTRACT Palantir's British CEO Louis Mosley said the committee had accepted that the NHS contract ⁠was delivering, and it was therefore "frankly irresponsible" to call for its cancellation.

Speaking on BBC radio, he added Palantir had won the NHS contract through a fully open and competitive ⁠tender. British ​non-profit Foxglove - which is coordinating a campaign against Palantir in the NHS - welcomed the report and called on the government to end the contract.

"MPs across parties, NHS staff, and a growing swathe of the public are united in their belief that a firm like this ⁠should have no part in our public services," it said in a statement. The committee's report concluded that the government lacked a coherent plan ⁠for the digital transformation of public services, ⁠calling its aim to save £45 billion annually through such changes "worryingly optimistic".

It also made broader recommendations for the government's digital strategy, including appointing a senior minister to lead it. The government's health ministry did not immediately respond ‌to a Reuters request for ‌comment on the committee's report. ($1 = 0.7426 pounds)

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